All-Star Filipino Film Makes History; Reaches Over 100 Million Homes in the US

Circle of Bones, an independent horror/action film written and directed by award-winning Filipino filmmaker Vincent Soberano made history as the first Filipino film with a day-and-date release in the US, opening in US theaters from October 22 - 28, 2021, in ten major cities, followed by a digital release to cable and streaming platforms that reached more than 100 MILLION HOMES in the United States! 

 

It is now available in US platforms such as Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV, Vudu, Redbox, and cable services such as Comcast, Cablevision, AT&T, and RCN. It will next release in Canada, UK and Ireland, before going worldwide in early 2022.

Executive produced by IndieGo Pictures Entertainment (PH) and Safier Entertainment (USA) in cooperation with CMB Films and Blackburst Studios, it was acquired by Vertical Entertainment for distribution in 2020 but delayed its release because of the pandemic. The movie is in Tagalog and English language and was filmed in Panglao, Bohol and Cainta, Rizal. 

 

“Circle of Bones” is based on Vincent Soberano’s unpublished book, “Yawa” - a tale of local superstitions and modern-day urban legends of the Visayas region. Set in the picturesque island of Panglao, Bohol, the story is told by a lone survivor of a mysterious cult suspected of mass murders and human sacrifices. 

 

U.S. executive producer Jared Safier, a 4-time Emmy Awards winner, points out that one of the movie’s most attractive factors is its style and Hollywood-ish look. “It looks like an $8 million dollar movie,” he says. “The style and storytelling is something that the US audience can relate to, adding to the film’s exotic Filipino landscape and cast. This is what makes it marketable to the Western audience.”

 

Director and writer Vincent Soberano, who is a US-trained filmmaker, points out that without the full support of the province of Bohol and the city of Panglao, this movie would not have been able to achieve its “expensive” Hollywood-worthy look. 

“We met with the governor and he gave us carte-blanche access to shoot the entire movie in Bohol,” Soberano recalls. “It was amazing – the resorts, buses, airfare, accommodations, catering, roads, locations, even the local police, military and coast guard units provided us with everything we needed.”

 

In return, he said that he vowed to show the world how amazing Bohol is as an international filming destination. With a reach of over 100 million homes in the US and a potentially bigger worldwide reach, Soberano is indeed keeping up to his promise. 

 

Hollywood action star Sarah Chang (Accident Man 2, Blursday, The Teacher) rounds up the cast with Filipino stars Jana Victoria, Marela Torre, Ian Ignacio and Epy Quizon, and a cameo of the legendary Joel Torre. Marela Torre, who makes her starring role debut in this film, has since moved on to other big roles in film and TV, including “Ang Probinsyano.” Ian Ignacio and Epy Quizon worked with Vincent Soberano prior to this film, in “Trigonal: Fight for Justice” (2018).

Vertical Entertainment is one of the top distribution companies in the US, based in Santa Monica, California, and founded by producers Richard B. "Rich" Goldberg and Mitch Budin in 2012.

 

Beaming with pride, Soberano is happy to do his share in uplifting the Filipino image abroad. “It gives me great pride as a Filipino filmmaker that I’ve gotten this far to represent Filipino films in the U.S. mainstream market. Next step, worldwide distribution!” 

In fact, he was recognized earlier this year by the Film Development Commission of the Philippines (FDCP) for winning the Best Screenplay award in Los Angeles for “Circle of Bones.” In addition, the movie also garnered the Best Indie Film award in Las Vegas as well as a Best Director award for Vincent Soberano and a Best Actress award for Sarah Chang.

Under the brokerage of Safier Entertainment, “Circle of Bones” is poised for worldwide distribution in 2022 after its North America and UK/Ireland releases, where it looks to replicate its success in the United States.

The initial theatrical listing* for the October 22 release is as follows:

DMA	Theater	City, St	Zip	Open Date
NY	Kent Theater	Brooklyn, NY	11230	10/22/2021
LA	Galaxy Mission Grove	Riverside, CA	92508	10/22/2021
CHI	Emagine Portage	Portage, IN	46368	10/22/2021
PHL	Westown Movies	Middletown, DE	19709	10/22/2021
DAL	Galaxy Grandscape	The Colony, TX	75056	10/22/2021
HOU	SMG Pearland	Houston, TX	77075	10/22/2021
DET	Emagine Rochester Hills	Rochester Hills, MI	48307	10/22/2021
SEA	Galaxy Theatres Monroe	Monroe, WA	98272	10/22/2021
MIN	Emagine Lakeville	Lakeville, MN	55044	10/22/2021
ORL	SMG Sunset Walk	Kissimmee, FL	34747	10/22/2021

 

The digital platforms (TV and streaming) are as follows:

 

Cable/Sat/Telco:
Comcast/Xfinity
Directv
Cox
Charter / Spectrum / Time Warner
Dish
Verizon
AT&T U-Verse
Frontier
Smaller regional providers

 

Digital:
iTunes
Amazon Prime Video
VUDU (Fandango)
Google Play

Redbox On Demand
Microsoft Movies & TV

 

 

*Additional theatrical venues will be added after the initial release.